Footfall analysis is essential in structural engineering because it assesses how a building or structure responds to vibrations caused by people walking or moving across floors, walkways, or other structural components. This is particularly critical in buildings with large open spaces, such as offices, shopping centres, stadiums, and footbridges, where the impact of foot traffic can lead to noticeable vibrations.
The process of producing a model requires that the structure is idealised into a suitable form for modelling. This often requires at least some degree of simplification. Such a process of simplification applies not just to the model geometry itself, but also to the loading and restraint conditions. In some circumstances, such simplification can be done in a variety of ways with no significant impact on the overall analysis, but there are cases where how the loads or restraints are modelled can have a significant effect on the results.
The accuracy of any FE analysis is heavily influenced by the size of the finite element mesh. Large elements result in a faster analysis time but at the cost of a loss of accuracy. But a small global mesh size, while giving a higher level of accuracy, comes at the cost of analysis time. So how do you know if the mesh is correct?
Finite Element Analysis is an extremely useful tool for modelling structures that are too complex for regular beam element analytical solutions. However, finite elements raises many questions both in modelling and analysis.
The high degree of integration in MasterSeries allows you to analyse, design, detail and schedule your concrete ground beams, rafts and pile caps within one system.
Watch the recording of our latest Webinar and learn how to design concrete ground beams, rafts and pile caps to Eurocode 2 using MasterSeries.
Finite Element based concrete slab design provides a flexible and versatile design tool for the analyse and design of highly complex geometries combined with multiple openings
Join us for our next Webinar and learn how to design composite floors and stairs for vibrations using state-of-the-art and accurate finite element based vibration analysis and design.